I'm looking for an inexpensive headphone amp to use with my DAC as currently I can't use my main speakers (staying with in-laws for the time being). So I was browsing ebay and came across this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Valve-Class-A-H...in_0?hash=item3a52a97a68&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
It looks interesting but I really don't have much of any idea about tubes but always wanted to try a tube headphone amp. I understand it's probably not amazing but do you guys think it could be decent? Or better yet has anyone used it? I have a pair of Alessandro MS2's and a pair of Bose on-ear phones that it would be used with.
At 79.99 I don't think it's that cheap but they also sell them at auction which they frequently end at 30 bucks or so +12 shipping so 40ish dollars is quite cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Valve-Class-A-H...in_0?hash=item3a52a97a68&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
It looks interesting but I really don't have much of any idea about tubes but always wanted to try a tube headphone amp. I understand it's probably not amazing but do you guys think it could be decent? Or better yet has anyone used it? I have a pair of Alessandro MS2's and a pair of Bose on-ear phones that it would be used with.
At 79.99 I don't think it's that cheap but they also sell them at auction which they frequently end at 30 bucks or so +12 shipping so 40ish dollars is quite cheap.
There is a forum at http://www.head-fi.org/ where they seem to talk about Chinese amps like these. They are saying the Chinese 6N11 is not bad. It is the same as an ECC88 so if you want, you could swap out the Chinese tube for a 60's vintage "made in USA" RCA tube (about $40) if you are not happy with the sound and these are also some current production East European tubes ($15) that could fit. So you'd have some options.
But will you hear the "tube sound" in a headphone amp? I don't know? Headphone amps don't really add much to the sound as they don't supply much gain or power.
With new parts it would cost you at least $100 to build one of these. The DIY version would be beter in theory but you don't save money or time.
Like you'd get more informed opinions at head-fi.org
But will you hear the "tube sound" in a headphone amp? I don't know? Headphone amps don't really add much to the sound as they don't supply much gain or power.
With new parts it would cost you at least $100 to build one of these. The DIY version would be beter in theory but you don't save money or time.
Like you'd get more informed opinions at head-fi.org
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